Silas Capital, Unilever Ventures Invest in Oak Essentials

Oak Essentials, the skincare brand founded by Jenni Kayne, has secured first-round dual funding from Silas Capital and Unilever Ventures. The investment will fuel expansion, allowing for enhanced product development, increased marketing efforts  and broader distribution, according to the Los Angeles-based brand.

Kayne is known for her eponymous fashion, lifestyle and home collections.

“We love how Jenni Kayne has applied tasteful curation to create Oak Essentials as a luxurious beauty lifestyle brand centered around ritual, relaxation, and sensorial experiences reminiscent of a visit to the spa – at your own convenience. The brand delivers for consumers who are increasingly embracing the holistic wellness benefits of beauty products with an appreciation for self-care and beauty routines,” said Anna Ohlsson-Baskerville, partner at Unilever Ventures.

Oak Essentials recently marked its third anniversary. Since launch, it has moved from DTC to being stocked at ShopBop and Nordstrom, and is set to nearly double its revenue, according to sources.

There are currently 26 products across skin and body care in the line. Oak Essentials says has sold more than half a million products since its launch. Hero products include its Moisture Rich Balm, Ritual Oil and Dew Body Oil. The brand plans to make its foray into bath products this year.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce our partnership with Silas Capital and Unilever Ventures. Their investment is a powerful endorsement of our vision to offer spa-like and effective skincare rituals for sophisticated consumers to experience in their own homes.  Having spent the last three years building our DTC business, we’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come but are eagerly looking ahead to this next phase.  We are so grateful to have Silas and Unilever Ventures’ support and expertise as we place focus on the key areas that we believe will solidify us as leaders in prestige beauty; keeping product innovation at the forefront and building upon our existing assortment and categories, expanding our distribution channels with new and upcoming retail partnerships, and deepening our focus on sustainability as a core pillar of the brand.  This is such an incredible milestone for Oak Essentials and we’re so excited for what’s to come,” said Lauren Harris, CEO at Oak Essentials.

Harris moved from COO of Jenni Kayne to CEO of Oak Essentials in January.

“Jenni is the consummate tastemaker, and over the past few years has artfully reflected her ethos in the development of Oak Essentials’ multi-category assortment of clean, luxe essentials,” said Brian Thorne, partner at Silas Capital.  “Beyond the elevated aesthetic of these products, they truly do deliver on efficacy – which has been one of the key drivers of the brand’s tremendous growth to date. We’re thrilled to partner with Jenni and Unilever Ventures for this next chapter, supporting both Oak’s impressive e-commerce momentum, as well as its quickly scaling wholesale channel.”

Unilever Ventures invested in Luna Daily in July.

Oak Essentials Wellness Club in New York

The Jenni Kayne Farmhouse and Oak Essentials Wellness Club—an experiential lifestyle and wellness retreat in Tivoli, NY—opened this summe to VIPs, editors, and influencers. It will open to the public this fall, according to the brand.

“As we celebrate Oak Essentials’ third year, this partnership with Silas Capital and Unilever Ventures marks an exciting new chapter for the brand. I’m thrilled for Oak Essentials to collaborate with these respected industry leaders as we push the boundaries of what clean, prestige beauty can be,” said Jenni Kayne, founder of Oak Essentials